If he's not overclocking I'd suggest the E8400, and the 4850 combo. I have no complaints about the GPU performance, though I have a Q6600 myself it's overclocked to be suitable for some games when I want, it's most likely not enjoyable stock speeds for gaming (I've never kept it stock, personally so I don't have experience with that aspect)

__________________

Dell XPS8700 | Asus x101ch | iPhone 5 (iOS7)

A Veteran, whether Regular Force, Reserve or Retired- is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to the Dominion of Canada for an amount of "Up to and including my life"